🔗 Share this article Sunderland Stage Notorious Newcastle Squad Picture After Pivotal Local Rivalry Win. The team gathered for a celebratory photograph to mark their win over their local foes. New leadership and a largely changed squad – but the club at Sunderland remembered vividly. Back in 2024, after Newcastle's thumping 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the visitors commemorated the moment with a group photo on the pitch. On this occasion, the script were flipped. Nick Woltemade's own goal proved enough to deliver Sunderland a memorable win over their rivals in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to recreate Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time. “Forever inventive, resourceful, flexible,” said with a grin Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when questioned about who came up with the gesture. Defender Dan Ballard, who conceded an own goal in that 2024 FA Cup tie, was the sole Sunderland player to start in each of the games. He revealed how he was determined to make amends for the loss, stating: “Words can't express it. It was agonizing for the players and for the fans. We felt we had let them down, so we're ecstatic with this win.” “It prepared us more for today. We came in with greater talent in this team, real leaders, we dug deep, fought really hard and I thought we deserved the win.” Sunderland deliberately echoed this picture from Newcastle's previous triumph over the Black Cats. ‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’ Occupying seventh spot Sunderland are enjoying a excellent return to the top flight after promotion via the play-offs last season. The Black Cats have 26 points on the board in 16 games, their most at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01. They are yet to lose in the league at the Stadium of Light, which boasted an electric atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon. “In local rivalry matches, the result is everything, the performance secondary,” said captain Granit Xhaka. “This team merits greater recognition – where we are in the league is amazing and we're working really hard.” Sunderland are also without a loss in their last 10 league games against Newcastle, their longest such run without defeat against the Magpies. Newcastle's last league win over Sunderland was all the way back in 2011. Manager Regis le Bris said he was “extremely pleased” with the outcome. “It was a derby and we were expected [to win] of our fans,” he stated. “This win is well deserved, we were mature and the lads were superb.” “It's fantastic for the region, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a huge game, but we have to refocus immediately as we have another hard game in Brighton in one week.” The Sunderland scoreboard at Stadium of Light pointedly omitted Newcastle's name.
The team gathered for a celebratory photograph to mark their win over their local foes. New leadership and a largely changed squad – but the club at Sunderland remembered vividly. Back in 2024, after Newcastle's thumping 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the visitors commemorated the moment with a group photo on the pitch. On this occasion, the script were flipped. Nick Woltemade's own goal proved enough to deliver Sunderland a memorable win over their rivals in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to recreate Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time. “Forever inventive, resourceful, flexible,” said with a grin Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when questioned about who came up with the gesture. Defender Dan Ballard, who conceded an own goal in that 2024 FA Cup tie, was the sole Sunderland player to start in each of the games. He revealed how he was determined to make amends for the loss, stating: “Words can't express it. It was agonizing for the players and for the fans. We felt we had let them down, so we're ecstatic with this win.” “It prepared us more for today. We came in with greater talent in this team, real leaders, we dug deep, fought really hard and I thought we deserved the win.” Sunderland deliberately echoed this picture from Newcastle's previous triumph over the Black Cats. ‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’ Occupying seventh spot Sunderland are enjoying a excellent return to the top flight after promotion via the play-offs last season. The Black Cats have 26 points on the board in 16 games, their most at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01. They are yet to lose in the league at the Stadium of Light, which boasted an electric atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon. “In local rivalry matches, the result is everything, the performance secondary,” said captain Granit Xhaka. “This team merits greater recognition – where we are in the league is amazing and we're working really hard.” Sunderland are also without a loss in their last 10 league games against Newcastle, their longest such run without defeat against the Magpies. Newcastle's last league win over Sunderland was all the way back in 2011. Manager Regis le Bris said he was “extremely pleased” with the outcome. “It was a derby and we were expected [to win] of our fans,” he stated. “This win is well deserved, we were mature and the lads were superb.” “It's fantastic for the region, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a huge game, but we have to refocus immediately as we have another hard game in Brighton in one week.” The Sunderland scoreboard at Stadium of Light pointedly omitted Newcastle's name.